ISLAMABAD: Pakistan condemns Israeli bombardment of tents for displaced Palestinians in the southern Gaza city of Rafah that killed dozens of people, the Pakistani Foreign Office said on Monday.
Palestinian health workers said Israeli airstrikes killed at least 45 people on Sunday and “numerous” others were trapped in flaming debris. Gaza’s Health Ministry said women and children made up most of the dead and dozens of wounded.
The attacks came two days after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to end its military offensive in Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population had sought shelter before Israel’s incursion earlier this month.
“Targeting of individuals who were displaced earlier because of Israeli bombardment and were sheltered in a refugee camp, is yet another breach of international humanitarian law by the Israeli occupation forces,” the Pakistani Foreign Office said in a statement.
“The attack is also a blatant defiance of the additional provisional measures of 24 May 2024 by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah in conformity with its obligations under the Genocide Convention and the worsening humanitarian conditions faced by civilians.”
The case against Israel was initiated by South Africa in December 2023, where it labeled Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip as “genocidal,” asserting that they intended to destroy the Palestinian people in ways specified under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
The war on Gaza broke out after Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, which killed more than 1,100 people, in response to the deteriorating condition of Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation.
Israel launched a retaliatory offensive, widely viewed as disproportionate, in which more than 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have lost their lives, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
“Pakistan reiterates its demand for immediate and unconditional implementation of the orders of the ICJ of 24 May 2024. Measures must be taken to fully protect civilians in Gaza and the Israeli occupation forces must be held accountable for the Gaza genocide,” the Pakistan Foreign Office said further.
“We call on the UN Security Council to play its role in preventing Israel from any further attacks against the civilians in Rafah and taking effective measures to protect the people of Gaza.”
Pakistan does not recognize the state of Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
In recent months, the South Asian country has repeatedly raised the issue of Israel’s war on Gaza, launched last October, at the United Nations through its permanent representative, Ambassador Munir Akram.
Pakistan condemns Israeli attack on Rafah refugee camp, calls it ‘blatant defiance’ of ICJ ruling
https://arab.news/gn7dr
Pakistan condemns Israeli attack on Rafah refugee camp, calls it ‘blatant defiance’ of ICJ ruling
- Israeli airstrikes killed at least 45 people on Sunday and ‘numerous’ others were trapped under debris
- Gaza’s Health Ministry said women and children made up most of the dead and dozens of wounded
Pakistan marks record Gulfood presence with 142 food firms
- Participation spans rice, meat, beverages and processed foods as TDAP expands export push
- Pakistan has been increasingly using global trade exhibitions to promote value-added food exports
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has made its largest-ever showing at Gulfood, the world’s leading food and beverage trade exhibition, with a total of 142 Pakistani companies participating in the 2026 edition, according to a statement from the Ministry of Information released on Monday.
The record participation reflects Islamabad’s broader push to boost food exports, diversify overseas markets and strengthen Pakistan’s integration into global food value chains at a time when the country is seeking export-led growth to stabilize its economy.
Gulfood’s 31st edition, being held in Dubai, brings together more than 8,500 exhibitors from 195 countries, showcasing over 1.5 million food and beverage products across 12 sectors, making it one of the most influential platforms for global agri-food trade.
Of the 142 Pakistani firms, 67 companies are participating under the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), while 75 companies are taking part independently, across four specialized pavilions covering rice, pulses and grains, world food, beverages, and meat and poultry. Notably, 30 rice exporters are participating under TDAP, underlining Pakistan’s position as one of the world’s leading rice suppliers.
“Pakistan’s largest-ever participation at Gulfood is a strong reflection of our commitment to economic diplomacy and export-led growth,” Pakistan’s Consul General in Dubai said, according to the statement.
Officials from TDAP and the Pakistan mission in Dubai visited the pavilion on the opening day on Sunday, meeting exhibitors and overseeing branding, pavilion layout and business-to-business engagements. Pakistani companies expressed satisfaction with logistical arrangements and official facilitation, the statement said.
International and regional buyers showed “strong interest” in Pakistani products including rice, cereals, dairy items, spices, processed foods, bakery products, meat, salt, juices and beverages, signalling promising export prospects, according to TDAP.
Pakistan has been increasingly using global trade exhibitions to promote value-added food exports, particularly to Gulf and Middle Eastern markets, which remain among the country’s largest destinations for rice, meat and processed food products.
In addition to exhibition activities, TDAP’s Director General for Agro Division represented Pakistan at the Gulfood Future Food 500 Summit, where he highlighted government initiatives aimed at attracting investment into agriculture and food processing, and underscored Pakistan’s role in global food security, including its supply of rice to more than 100 countries worldwide, the statement said.
